The Two Towers: Book Three: Chapters 1-3

by J.R.R. Tolkien
In the second part of The Lord of the Rings, the fellowship is broken. Two hobbits are kidnapped by orcs, while Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli help fight the forces of Saruman, an evil wizard. Meanwhile, with Gollum as their guide, Frodo and Sam make their way to Mordor to destroy the One Ring.

Here are links to our lists for the novel: Book Three: Chapters 1-3, Book Three: Chapters 4-7, Book Three: Chapters 8-11, Book Four: Chapters 1-3, Book Four: Chapters 4-6, Book Four: Chapters 7-10

Here are links to our lists for other works by J.R.R. Tolkien: The Fellowship of the Ring, The Return of the King, The Hobbit
40 words 392 learners

Learn words with Flashcards and other activities

Definition First
Print Flashcards

Other learning activities

Answer a few questions about each word. Use this to prep for your next quiz! Compete with other teams in real time to see who answers the most questions correctly! Test your spelling acumen. Read the definition, listen to the word and try spelling it!

Teaching tools

Create and assign quizzes to your students to test their vocabulary. Assign learning activities including Practice, Vocabulary Jams and Spelling Bees to your students, and monitor their progress in real-time.

Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. unscathed
    not injured
    ‘I am unscathed, for I was not here with him. He fell defending the hobbits, while I was away upon the hill.’
  2. carrion
    the dead and rotting body of an animal; unfit for human food
    ‘We cannot leave him lying like carrion among these foul Orcs.’
  3. despoil
    plunder or steal goods
    ‘They were borne by the hobbits. Doubtless the Orcs despoiled them, but feared to keep the knives, knowing them for what they are: work of Westernesse, wound about with spells for the bane of Mordor. Well, now, if they still live, our friends are weaponless. I will take these things, hoping against hope, to give them back.’
  4. quiver
    case for holding arrows
    ‘And I,’ said Legolas, ‘will take all the arrows that I can find, for my quiver is empty.’
  5. shaft
    a long rod or pole, especially the body of a weapon
    He searched in the pile and on the ground about and found not a few that were undamaged and longer in the shaft than such arrows as the Orcs were accustomed to use.
  6. stature
    the height of a standing person
    There were four goblin-soldiers of greater stature, swart, slant-eyed, with thick legs and large hands.
  7. stern
    the rear part of a ship
    Then fastening the prow to the stern of the other boat, they drew him out into the water.
  8. furrow
    hollow out in the form of a groove
    The western side of each ridge was steep and difficult, but the eastward slopes were gentler, furrowed with many gullies and narrow ravines.
  9. escarpment
    a long steep slope at the edge of a plateau or ridge
    The trail led them north along the top of the escarpment, and at length they came to a deep cleft carved in the rock by a stream that splashed noisily down.
  10. ravine
    a deep narrow steep-sided valley
    In the narrow ravine a rough path descended like a steep stair into the plain.
  11. swath
    a path or strip (also figurative)
    Nearly due west the broad swath of the marching Orcs tramped its ugly slot; the sweet grass of Rohan had been bruised and blackened as they passed.
  12. contrive
    make or work out a plan for; devise
    ‘There will be no escape again, if we do not contrive it. How that is to be done cannot be guessed, but first we must overtake them.’
  13. mar
    cause to become imperfect
    A vain pursuit from its beginning, maybe, which no choice of mine can mar or mend.
  14. fitful
    occurring in spells and often abruptly
    During all its long hours of cloud and fitful sun they hardly paused, now striding, now running, as if no weariness could quench the fire that burned them.
  15. sustenance
    a source of food or nourishment
    Only Legolas still stepped as lightly as ever, his feet hardly seeming to press the grass, leaving no footprints as he passed; but in the waybread of the Elves he found all the sustenance that he needed, and he could sleep, if sleep it could be called by Men, resting his mind in the strange paths of elvish dreams, even as he walked open-eyed in the light of this world.
  16. glint
    a momentary flash of light
    But Legolas stood beside him, shading his bright elven-eyes with his long slender hand, and he saw not a shadow, nor a blur, but the small figures of horsemen, many horsemen, and the glint of morning on the tips of their spears was like the twinkle of minute stars beyond the edge of mortal sight.
  17. host
    archaic terms for army
    Now the cries of clear strong voices came ringing over the fields. Suddenly they swept up with a noise like thunder, and the foremost horseman swerved, passing by the foot of the hill, and leading the host back southward along the western skirts of the downs.
  18. haughty
    having or showing arrogant superiority
    ‘But wanderers in the Riddermark would be wise to be less haughty in these days of doubt. First tell me your right name.’
  19. thwart
    hinder or prevent, as an effort, plan, or desire
    Will you aid me or thwart me?
  20. herald
    a person who announces important news
    He has been a guest in the land many times in the memory of men, coming as he will, after a season, or after many years. He is ever the herald of strange events: a bringer of evil, some now say.
  21. grievous
    causing or marked by grief or anguish
    ‘It is tidings more grievous than any in this land can understand, though it may touch them sorely ere the year is much older,’ said Aragorn. ‘But when the great fall, the less must lead...'
  22. craven
    lacking even the rudiments of courage; abjectly fearful
    It is true that we are not yet at open war with the Black Land, and there are some, close to the king’s ear, that speak craven counsels; but war is coming.
  23. discern
    perceive, recognize, or detect
    ‘Good and ill have not changed since yesteryear; nor are they one thing among Elves and Dwarves and another among Men. It is a man’s part to discern them, as much in the Golden Wood as in his own house.’
  24. chafe
    feel extreme irritation or anger
    My company chafes to be away, and every hour lessens your hope.
  25. begrudge
    allow unwillingly or reluctantly
    ‘And do not trouble: no one will ever hear of it. I would sooner walk than sit on the back of any beast so great, free or begrudged.’
  26. restive
    impatient especially under restriction or delay
    A smaller and lighter horse, but restive and fiery, was brought to Legolas.
  27. abominable
    unequivocally detestable
    One of the Orcs sitting near laughed and said something to a companion in their abominable tongue.
  28. brigand
    an armed thief who is (usually) a member of a band
    These lands are dangerous: full of foul rebels and brigands.
  29. fray
    a noisy fight
    His guards had gone to join in the fray.
  30. rend
    tear or be torn violently
    Hard hands with rending nails gripped and lifted him.
  31. savor
    taste appreciatively
    'Nazgûl, Nazgûl,' said Grishnákh, shivering and licking his lips, as if the word had a foul taste that he savoured painfully.
  32. rabble
    a disorderly crowd of people
    Get your rabble together! The other swine are legging it to the forest. You’d better follow.
  33. jowl
    a looseness of the flesh of the lower cheek and jaw
    Pippin was bruised and torn, his aching head was grated by the filthy jowl and hairy ear of the Orc that held him.
  34. gild
    decorate with, or as if with, gold leaf or liquid gold
    The sunset gilded their spears and helmets, and glinted in their pale flowing hair.
  35. mercilessly
    without pity
    The last part of the order was carried out mercilessly.
  36. stifle
    smother or suppress
    He tucked them one under each armpit, and crushed them fiercely to his sides; a great stifling hand was clapped over each of their mouths.
  37. sortie
    a military action in which besieged troops burst forth
    The Riders were drawing in their ring close round the knoll, risking the orc-arrows, so as to prevent any sortie, while a company rode off to deal with the newcomers.
  38. vigil
    a purposeful surveillance to guard or observe
    The Riders had returned to their silent ominous vigil.
  39. lichen
    a plant occurring in crusty patches on tree trunks or rocks
    Great trailing beards of lichen hung from them, blowing and swaying in the breeze.
  40. resolutely
    showing firm determination or purpose
    But one band, holding together in a black wedge, drove forward resolutely in the direction of the forest.
Created on Tue Jan 30 16:26:41 EST 2018 (updated Tue Feb 20 15:57:05 EST 2018)

Sign up now (it’s free!)

Whether you’re a teacher or a learner, Vocabulary.com can put you or your class on the path to systematic vocabulary improvement.